Under nutrition & morbidity among pre-school children in rural area of Puducherry, India.

Dr. Pallavi A. Potdar; Dr. Ashutosh B. Potdar; Dr. Poonam Thillana

Volume : IX, Issue : I, January - 2019

Under nutrition & morbidity among pre-school children in rural area of Puducherry, India.

Dr. Pallavi A. Potdar, Dr. Ashutosh B. Potdar, Dr. Poonam Thillana

Abstract :

Background: Malnutrition is very rampant in India. It’s a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality as well as permanent impairment of physical and possibly mental growth of survived children. Objectives: 1) To find out the prevalence of under nutrition and morbidity among under five children. 2) To identify various socio–demographic factors associated with under nutrition. Study design: Cross sectional study was conducted during Jan 2014 to August 2014 in anganwadis in rural area of Puducherry with 135 children. Results: We observed that overall prevalence of under nutrition was 34.8%. Among girls 38% were undernourished while 29% boys were undernourished at the time of survey. Morbidities like diarrhea, ARI (acute respiratory infection) were observed among 38.2% of malnourished children while 12% of the well–nourished children had some morbidity at the time of our survey. Under nutrition among children was significantly associated with morbidity (χ2=12.07, p<0.001). Educational status of mother and socio–economic status of family have significant impact on the nutritional status of the child.